Qadariyya

The Qadariyya (Arabic: القدرية) was an early theological movement within Islam that emerged in the 7th and 8th centuries. The central tenet of the Qadariyya was their belief in human free will and the ability of individuals to choose their actions independently of divine predestination. This contrasted with the more dominant view of Qadar, or divine decree, which emphasized God's absolute power and foreknowledge in all events.

Followers of the Qadariyya argued that if God were solely responsible for all human actions, then the concepts of reward and punishment in the afterlife would be unjust. They believed that humans possessed the capacity for reason and choice, making them accountable for their deeds. This emphasis on human agency led them to be sometimes associated with the Mu'tazila, another rationalist school of Islamic theology that also stressed free will and divine justice, although the Qadariyya predated the formal establishment of the Mu'tazila.

The Qadariyya's views were often met with opposition from mainstream Sunni scholars who adhered to the doctrine of predestination. They were accused of associating partners with God by attributing independent power to creation. Over time, the distinct identity of the Qadariyya as a separate movement faded, with their core ideas being integrated into or debated within later theological schools of thought. The debate over free will versus predestination, however, remained a significant and ongoing discussion throughout Islamic intellectual history.